Softball Game Preview: Hanford Falcons vs. Walla Walla Blue Devils

The Hanford Falcons will challenge the Walla Walla Blue Devils at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. The timing is sure in Hanford's favor as the squad sits on five straight wins at home while Walla Walla has been banged up by six consecutive losses on the road dating back to last season.

Hanford is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Washington's top teams: Richland, who was ranked first at the time (Hanford was ranked fifth). The Falcons fell 5-0 to the Bombers on Tuesday. The game marked the first time this season in which the Falcons were not able to get on the board.

Meanwhile, Walla Walla also suffered a loss in their last game, falling to Kamiakin by a score of 11-6.

Emily Meliah ?26 made the most of her time at bat despite the final result and scored two runs while going 2-for-3. She also hit two doubles, marking her first of the season.

Walla Walla's loss dropped their record down to 1-8. As for Hanford, their defeat was their first in the district, dropping their district record down to 6-1 and their overall record down to 10-2.

Walla Walla's hitters will have their work cut out for them on Friday. Hanford has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 7.8 strikeouts per game. It's a different story for Walla Walla, though, as they've been averaging only 1.1 strikeouts. Will Hanford keep running through batters, or will the Blue Devils buck the trend?

Hanford took their victory against Walla Walla in their previous matchup back in April of 2024 by a conclusive 12-2 score. Will the Falcons repeat their success, or do the Blue Devils have a new game plan this time around? We'll find out soon enough.